L'architettura italiana per la città cinese. Italian Architecture for chinese City

Since their beginnings, the Universal Expositions have been a reflection of the vision of progress of the global economic system. Originally, this objective was expressed through representations designed to celebrate the ability of human genius to overcome any constraints that nature placed in front of them. The Chinese exhibition has been the most extraordinary event ever organised on urbanisation, and has set a crucial challenge to the world, including to Italy - which city model can you imagine in the future? Italy took up the challenge, setting up a pavilion on the "city of the future", entitled "The City of Man," in which man becomes the main character, where the concept of living plays a leading role. A building which used new eco-friendly materials, environmentally friendly, forward-looking. Moreover, it was the theme of the Expo itself which launched this challenge. A pavilion that has now become a symbol of Italian know-how, thus renewing traditional Italian architecture in the imagination of visitors. And architecture was certainly one of the keys to sowing new seeds of confidence for the future. A future in which it is possible to imagine new communities, better cities and a better life in relationship with the country and the world. This is why we wanted to dedicate a whole month of the Italian participation in the Shanghai Expo to architecture. In September, architects and international experts met to discuss the challenges of eco-friendliness and eco-sustainability. In the same month we hosted the exhibition "Italian Architecture for chinese Cities", which was a concrete example of what Italy can say and do to move beyond a future in which the search for new eco-sustainable materials plays a decisive role in architecture. If something remains in people's memories from this Expo it will be the immense amount of human capital and knowledge which have met in the Italian pavilion regarding current and urgent issues, such as those inspired by the general theme of the Expo, "Better city, Better life". The success of our participation will be even more important if, thanks to our proposals, the idea of a city and a better life will become clearer and more achievable. I believe that nowhere in the world today more than in China, we're raising the question of the need to design harmonious cities. Ideal cities studied from the beginning for man. City that never cease to surprise, always mixing a balanced economy, architectural masterpieces, wellness, taste, respect for the environment. Italy is, more than others, capable of a strong proposal for a 'type' city because it is in our Country and in our past the point where to start looking for inspiration. Our architecture is able to provide the right answers and I thank for this architects Franco Purini and Uberto Siola, curator of exhibition about Italian architecture for chinese cities that was an opportunity to share ideas and projects with our Chinese friends and make them understand that what they seek - a more harmonious city - is our city.